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L E T T E 

FROM 

WITH 

Paffages out of feyeral Jjeitexs 
from Perfojas of gooci Credit, 

Relatiiog to the State and Iiupro vemeiit of 
ike Province of 

PENNSILVANIA- 



TuUtJhedto preveni falfcT{jport^, 



Pnnicd intlic "^^ar [68/. 



[An original of the pamphlet which we here print is in the library of the 
late John Carter Brown, of Providence, Rhode Island. We are indebted 
to the Hon. John Russell Bartlett for his attention in comparing the trans- 
script used in printing with the original, and for a tracing of the title page, 
which we have endeavored to copy. In regard to the " fac-simile," Mr. 
Bartlett writes, "The only difference between it and the original is in the 
6th line, beginning with the word Passages. This line in the original is in 
a type a trifle larger and heavier. . . . The date also varies a little, 
the figures 6 and 8 in the original extending above the 1 and 7."] 



A LETTER FROM DOCTOR MORE WITH PASSAGES 

OUT OF SEVERAL LETTERS FROM 

PERSONS OF GOOD CREDIT. 

Relating to the State .and Improvement of the Province op 
Pennsilvania. 

Published to prevent false Reports. Printed in the year 1687. 

THE PREFACE. 

Divers false Reports going about Town and Country, to 
the Injury of the Province of Pennsilvania, I was prevailed 
with hy some concerned in that Province, and others that 
desire the truth of things, to Publish such of the last Letters 
as made mention of the State of the Country ; to serve for 
answer to the Idle and Unjust Stories that the Malice of some 
invent, and the Credulity of others prepare them to receive 
against it; which is all the part I take in this present Pub- 
lication. 

"William Penn. 

A Letter from Dr. More. 

Honored Governour. 

I have seen a Letter from your hand, directed to me, among 
many in this Province^ which came by Captain Richard Di- 
mond: It was in all respect welcome to me, and more particu- 
larly, for that you make mention of your coming to us again, 
with your Family; a thing so much desired b}'' all in these 
parts, and more particularly by my self. But I fear that 
Madam Penn should give too much credit to the evil Reports 
that I do understand are given out by many Enemies to this 
new Colony, as if ice were ready to Famish^ and that the Land 
is so barren, the Climet so hot, that English Grain, Roots and 
Herbs do not come to Maturity; and lohat grows, to be little worth. 
How untrue all these things are you well know ; but we that 
have seen our handy Work, accompanied with God's blessing 



A Letter from Doctor More. 

upon it, since your departure from us, are able to say some- 
thing more to encourage you to return to us again. You 
know, that when you went for England, there was an indif- 
ferent plenty of most things, and that many hundred Families 
were clearing of Land to Sow and Plant, as I was also doing ; 
since that, our Lands have been grateful to us, and have be- 
gun to reward our Labours by abounding Crops of Corn this 
Year. But to give you to understand the full of our Condi- 
tion, with respect to Provision in this Province; we had last 
Fall, and the Winter, abundance of good fresh Pork in our 
Market at two Pence half-penny jper pound, of this Country 
Money, which is an English two Pence; Beef at the same 
rate; the like is this Year; and Butler for six Pence per 
Pound; Wheat for four Shillings per Bushel; Rye three Shill- 
ings ; and now all this Summer Wheat is at three Shillings, 
& three Shillings 6 Pence; Rye at eight Groats, and half a 
Crown; Indian-Corn seven Groats, and two Shillings this 
Country Money still ; so that there is now some Corn Trans- 
ported from this River. Doctor Butler has bought two hun- 
dred Bushels of Wheat at three Shillings six Pence, to Trans- 
port, & several others, so that some Thousands of Bushels are 
Transported this Season, and when this Crop that now is 
gathered is Threshed, it is supposed that it will be abun- 
dantly cheaper than now it is, for there has been abundance 
of Corn this Year in every Plantation. 

The last year I did plant about twelve Acres of Indian 
Corn, and when it came ott the Ground, I did only cause the 
Ground to be Harrowed, and upon that I did sow both Wheat 
and Rye, at which many Laughed, saying. That I coidd not 
expect any Corn from what I had sowed, the Land icanting more 
Labour; yet I had this Year as good Wheat und Rye upon 
it, as was to be found in any other place, and that very bright 
Corn. I have had a good Crop of Barley and Oats and whereas 
my People did not use my Barley well, so that much was 
shed upon the Ground, I caused it immediately to be Plowed 
in, and is now growing, keeping a good Colour, and I am in 
hope of another Crop of Barley, having good Ears tho the 
Straw be shorter. I did plant an Hopp-Garden this Spring, 



A Letter from Doctor 31ore. 

which is now exceeding full of Hopps^ at which all English 
People admire. Richard Collet and Samuel Carpenter, &c., 
having had some Fiolds of Rye the last Summer, and plowed 
the Stable in order to sow other Corn, by some Casualty could 
not sow their Fields; yet have they had considerable Crops of 
Rye, in the said Fields, by what had been shed on the Ground 
in Harvest time. I have had seventy Ears of Rye upon one 
single Root, proceeding from one single Corn ; forty five of 
Wheat: eighty of Oats; ten, twelve and fourteen of Barley out 
of one Corn: I took the Curiosity to tell one of the twelve 
Ears from one Grain, and there was in it forty five Grains on 
that Ear; above three Thousand of Oats from one single Corn, 
and some I had, that had much more, but it would seem a 
Romance rather than a Truth, if I should speak what I have 
seen in these things. 

Arnoldus de la Grange hath above a Thousand Bushels of 
English Grain this year, there is indeed a great increase 
every where. I had the last year as good Turnops, Carrots 
and Parsnops as could be expected, and in no wise inferior to 
those in London, the Parsnops better, and of a great bigness; 
my Children have found out a way of Rosting them in the 
Embers, and are as good as Parbadoes- Potatoes, insomuch that 
it is now become a dish with us. "We have had admirable 
English Pease this Summer ; every one here is now persuaded 
of the fertility of the ground, and goodness of the climate, here 
being nothing wanting, with industry, that grows in England, 
and many delicious things, not attainable there; and we 
have tliis common advantage above England, that all things 
grow better, and with less labour. I have planted this Spring 
a Quickset, of Sixsoore Foot long, which grows to admira- 
tion; we find as good Thorns as any in tlie World. 

We have had so great abundance of Pigeons this Summer, 
that we have fed all our Servants with them. A Gentlewoman 
near the City, which is come into this Province since you 
went for England (Mrs. Jeffs from Ireland) Cured Sturgion the 
last year, and I have eaten some this Summer at her House, 
as good as you can get in London ; Some Barbadoes Merchants 
are treatinsr with her for several Barrels for the Barbadoes, 



A Letter from Doctor More. 

and will give her anything for them. We are wanting of 
some more good Neighbours to fill up the Country. There 
is a French Gentleman who made the last Year some Wine 
of the wild Grapes^ which proved admirable good, and far above 
the best Mader as that you ever tasted, a little higher colour'd. 
And one thing I must take notice of that we strove to make 
Vinegar of it, but it is so full of Spirit that it will not easily 
turn to Vinegar; a certain evidence of its long keeping. Your 
Vigeron had made a Barrel of the same Wine, resolving to 
keep it for your Entertainment; I being one day therfe, and 
speaking of what I had tasted at Monsieur Pelison's, he 
shewed me a Barrel, which he said was of the same sort that 
he had taken a great deal of care to secure from being med- 
dled with, he tauhing the head, it sounded empty, at which 
the man was so amased, that he was ready to Faint; after- 
wards looking about, it had leaked underneath, to about two 
Quarts ; I tasted it, and it was yet very good Wine, so I left 
the poor man much afilicted for his loss. But I must acquaint 
you with one thing, that he having planted some French 
Vines, the twenty fourth of Marchy the last year, the same 
Vines have brought forth some Grapes this year, and some 
of them were presented to President Lloyd the 28th of July, 
fully Black and Mipe, which is a thing unheard of, or very 
extraordinary. I thought that this short account of our 
present State and Condition, and Improvement would not be 
ill news to you, considering that you know me not forward 
to put my hand to Paper slightly; wherefore I hope that 
your Lady will not despise what I do here report, as being 
the very truth of things ; and if I could contribute thereby 
to her full Satisfaction, I should have my end, as being will- 
ing to see you and her in this place, where I shall not fear 
being rebuked for mis-representing things, I shall conclude, 

Governor, 
Green-Spring the 13th ) 
of September, 1686. f 

Your truly affectionate Friend and Servant, 

Nicholas More. 



A Letter from Doctor More. 

Madame Fm-mer has found out as good Lime-Stone, on the 
School-kill, as any in the World, and is building with it; she 
offers to sell ten Thousand Bushels at six Pence the Bushel, 
upon her Plantation, where there is several considerable Hills, 
and near to your manner of Springfield. N. M. 

In a Letter from the Governors Steward, Octob. 3, 1686. 

The Gardiner is brisk at Work. The Peach-Trees are 
much broken down with the weight of Fruit this Year. All 
or most of the Plants that came from England grow, (being 
abont four Thousand.) Cherries are sprung four and five 
Foot. Pears, Codlings and Plumbs three or four Foot. Pears 
and Apple Grafts, in Country Stocks, and in Thorns, are sprung 
three and four Foot. Rasherries, Goosberries, Currans, Quinces, 
liases, Walnuts and Figs grow well. Apricocks from the Stone 
fourteen or sixteen Inches sprung, since the Month called 
April. Our Parn, Porch and Shed, are full of Corn this year. 

In a Letter from the Governers Gardiner, dated the \Uh of the 
Month, calVd May, 1686. 

As for those things I brought with me, it is much for 
People in England to believe me of the growth of them ; some 
of the Trees and Bulbes are shot in five weeks time, some one 
Inch, some two, three, four, five, six, seven, yea some a eleven 
Inches ; some of them not ten days set in the Ground before 
they put out Buds. And seeds do come on apace; for those 
Seeds that in England take fourteen days to rise, are up here 
in six or seven days. Pray make agreement with the Bishop 
of London's Gardiner or any other that will furnish us with 
Trees, Shrubs, Flowers and Seeds, and we will furnish them 
from these places ; for we have excellent Trees, Shrubs and 
Flowers, & Herbs here, which I do not know I ever saw in 
any Gardens in England. 

In a Letter from Robert Turner a Merchant in Philadelphia 
and one of the Councel, the Ibth of October, 1686. 

I also advise, that, blessed be God, Corn is very cheap this 
Season ; English Wheat sold here, to carry for New-England 
at three Shillings six Pence per Bushel, and much Wheat- 



A Letter from Doctor More, 

Flower and Bisket for Barbadoes, Things prosper very well, 
and the Earth brings forth its encrease ; God grant we may 
walk worthy of his Mercies. Of other Grains, plenty. As 
to the Town, Building goeth on. John Readman is building 
one Brick House for Richard Whitpain^ of sixty Foot long, 
and fifty six Foot wide. For the Widow Farmer, another 
Brick House. For Thomas Barker and Samuel Jobson two 
Brick Cellars, and Chimnies for back Kitchings. Thomas 
Bucket is Building a Brick House at the Skulkil, forty eight 
Foot long and three Stories high; there are t\vo other Brick 
Houses to be built this Summer. 

In a Letter, of the 2d of October, /rom David Lloyd, Clerk 
of the Peace, of the County of Philadelphia. 

I shall only add, that five Ships are come in since our 
arrival, one from Bristol, with 100 Passengers; one from Hull 
with 160 Passengers; one from New-England for Corn, and 
two from Barbadoes ; all of them, and ours (of above 300 Tun) 
had their loading here, ours for New-England, and the rest 
for Barbadoes ; and for all this, Wheat (as good, I think, as 
any in England) is sold at three Shillings six pence per 
Bushel, this Country Money, and for three Shillings ready 
Money (which makes two Shillings five pence English Star- 
ling) and if God continues his blessing to us, this Province 
will certainly be the Grainary of America. The Governours 
Vineyard goes on very well, the Grapes I have tasted of; 
which in fifteen Months are come to maturity. 

In a Letter, of October last, from Thomas Holmes Surveyor 

General. 

We have made three Purchases of the Indians, which, 
added unto the six former Sales they made us, will, I believe, 
be Land enough for Planters for this Age ; they were at first 
High, and upon their Distances; but when we told them of 
the Kindness our Governour had always shown them; that 
the Price we ofier'd far exceeded former Rates, and that they 
ofifered 118 the Land before we fought* them, they agreed to 

* [Sought?] 



A Letter from Doctor More. 

our last Offer, which is something under three hundred 
Pounds sterling. The Kings salute our Governour; they 
hardly ever see any of us, but they ask, with much affection 
when he will come to them again; we are upon very good 
terms with them. I intend to send the Draughts for a Map 
by the first — 

In a Letter from James Claypole Merchant in Philadelphia 
and one of the Councel. 
I have never seen brighter and better Corn then in these- 
parts, especially in the County of Chester. Provisions very 
cheap ; Pork at two Pence, and good fat fresh Beef at three 
half-pence the Pound, in our Market. Fish is plentiful; 
Corn cheap; Wheat three and six pence a Bushel ; Bye half a 
Crown; Indian Corn two Shillings, of this Money: And it 
is without doubt that we shall have as good Wine as France 
produces. Here is great appearance of a Trade, and if we 
had small Money for Exchange, we should not want Returns. 
The Whale-Fishery is considerable ; several Companies out to 
ketch them: There is one caught that its thought will make 
several hundred Barrels of Gyle. This besides Tobacco and 
Skins, and Furs, we have for Commerce. 



FINIS. 



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